Week #4 Story: The Downfall of Jupiter

Correggio (Antonio Allegri) (1489-95), Jupiter and Io (1520-40)

My name is Iona. I used to be a helpless, weak human being. Today, I am the most famous immortal there is. Years ago, that was Jupiter. He ruled over heaven and earth, and none could overpower him. Or really, they didn't try because that's how powerful he was. He wasn't a terrible ruler, per say, but he took and did whatever he wanted to whoever he wanted.

And that included me. And my friend Semalia. Both of us were just innocent young girls when he raped us. It's not like we were the first ones this had happened to. There was nothing special about us that made him choose to take our innocence. It was just what he did, in his spare time I suppose.

I was 16 and wandering in my father's field on that fateful day when suddenly mist took over the entire field. I couldn't see anything further than an arm's length away. I was so scared, my breaths started coming heavy and tears pricked at my eyes. What was happening made no sense. 

Suddenly, the most beautiful man I'd ever seen was standing before me, a shining smile on his face.

"Hello, beautiful maiden," he said in a silky voice, his eyes twinkling. 

"Who are you? Are you responsible for the mists? Are you some sort of god?" I asked, trembling slightly and debating whether or not I should back away.

"Why, don't you know who I am? I am Jupiter, of course. I have watched you from afar and I think you the most beautiful woman I've laid these heavenly eyes on."

"Oh," I gasped as I took in the fact of who was before me. I wasn't sure how I should pay my respects, I'd never encountered a celestial before. "Why, thank you, Jupiter. To what do I owe this visit though? And why must we be surrounded in mists? My father will be worrying for me."

"Why, Iona," Jupiter purred, "you needn't worry. Your father and sisters are in a deep sleep caused by me. They will only wake when I am gone and will not know what has transpired here. No one can know."

"I don't understand," I said, this time backing away a step.

"I am Jupiter, god of the sky and thunder," he said with pride and a mischievous look on his face. "I come to do what I please with you."

No, I thought. No, he can't mean what I think he means.

He meant exactly what I thought he did. That day something was stolen from me that I could never get back. And not only that, but Juno, Jupiter's wife, was furious with me. She showed up at our house the next day and threatened me if it ever happened again. I sobbed at her feet, telling her that it wasn't my choice, that I didn't want it. I begged her to protect me from her husband's advances in the future.

She left in a huff, saying she couldn't promise it.

Though Jupiter never came to touch me again, I was pregnant with his child. And, as it turned out, so was a girl named Semalia in the next village over. We learned of it through gossip, and took her in as her family had disowned her. We went through our pregnancies together, and were occasionally visited by various gods and goddesses who gave us advice and to assure us that Jupiter didn't know about the pregnancies.

We didn't want him to come anywhere near us, let alone our children. Through our talks with each visitor, we gathered that there was much animosity towards Jupiter. Perhaps enough to overtake him.

So, Semalia and I began plotting. Slowly, we tested out the waters with the gods and goddesses, to see how far they would go in admitting if they wanted Jupiter dethroned. It took some time and a lot of trust building, but eventually everyone was on board. We just had to convince Juno. Even though her husband was an adulterous tyrant, everyone knew she loved him.

Somehow, she caught wind of our idea and came to visit me only days after I gave birth to a son that I named Domitor.

"Iona, mother of my husband's child, and plotter of his death," she said in a sulky voice.

"Juno," I acknowledge, not denying her accusation. "It has been so long since you visited me. What brings you here?"

"I want to help you," she said.

"With what?" I asked, trying not to sound shocked.

"Your plan. I have heard the rumblings of rebellion and I know that you will never be able to accomplish this without me. So," Juno said with a sigh, "I commit myself to your cause. I have spent too many years in his shadow, letting him walk all over me and every other woman. But, I have one requirement. When all is said and done, I will take his place. I will rule over all. And to thank you, I will make you and your friend immortal, and your children legitimate."

And so the plan began to form as we met in secret. It amazed me what could be kept from Jupiter when so many immortals came together to plot against him.

A few months later, our plan came to fruition. Using the combined powers of so many gods and goddesses, Jupiter was held down and sent to an eternal prison. I made sure I was there at the end, so that he would know who caused his downfall. I looked into his stormy eyes, that were full of rage and confusion. I looked into them with vengeance and let a wicked grin upon my face.

Semalia and I weren't the first women he had wronged, but we made sure we were some of the last.

And Juno kept her promise. Semalia and I ascended to the heavenly realm, along with my son and her daughter Praelia. We were granted with powers and eternal life, and made our mission to help women in need of escaping the clutches of men across the globe.

Author's Note: This is a retelling of parts of Ovid's Metamorphoses stories, specifically the Io and Semele sections, found here. In the original story, Jupiter rapes Io and then to hide what he's done from Juno he turns Io into a cow. Juno claims the cow as her own, and Io is watched over by a man named Argus. Jupiter sends his son Mercury to kill Argus, which he does, and then Jupiter returns Io to her human form and she is returned to her family. A few stories later, Jupiter again rapes a girl named Semele and she then becomes pregnant with his child. Juno is so furious that she convinces Semele to ask Jupiter to prove his "love" for her by coming to her in all of his power, knowing that this will kill Semele. Semele asks Jupiter for a gift, and before knowing what she will ask he swears he will give her whatever it is. She asks, and because he can't unswear it, he does as she asks. She is killed and her child is torn from the womb and sewed into Jupiter's thigh to finish his term.

Bibliography: Ovid's Metamorphoses, books 1-4, translated by Tony Kline

Week 2 Story: A Star's Magic

He's so beautiful, I thought to myself. He is the most beautiful person I've ever seen.

I was scrolling through the Instagram photos of the newest boy in my class—Henry Knight. He had just started attending Pathos High two weeks ago, and because we were both in the honors program we had five classes together!

We hadn't exactly spoken, but I was pretty sure I was in love with him. When he talked in class, it sounded like poetry. When he smiled, it was like the sun coming through the blinds in the morning. When he looked at me, which had happened at least once a day from across the room or passing in the hall, it was like a door was opening in my heart I never knew was closed.

I knew I was being a bit dramatic about all this. I tended to get this way about most things. But Henry was just so... wonderful. Or he seemed that way to me.

But I also knew that there was no chance he would ever see me the same way. Not when he was surrounded by dozens of girls that were far prettier and more interesting than me. I don't even know what I would have to offer him. But a girl could dream, right? And boy, did I.

***

The next morning, I was sitting at a cafeteria table with my best friend Whitney. She knew about my obsession over Henry and we were discussing how I might be able to get close to him.

"Maybe there will be a group project, and you will get placed together," Whitney said, listing off different ideas. "Or maybe, you should just, you know, try and talk to him?"

"I don't even know what I would say," I sighed. "I don't know how to do this. I've never felt this way about any of the guys we go to school with, I have no experience."

And it was true. All our other classmates of the opposite sex were people I'd practically grown up with. I just couldn't see any of them in a romantic way, even when I tried. So I'd never needed to talk to a guy that made me as nervous as Henry.

"Who knows," Whitney said. "Maybe a miracle will happen."

We laughed, and just then the first bell rang signaling us to head to our first classes of the day.

***

"What are you thinking about, sweetie?" My mom asked as she joined me on our back porch.

I had been sitting out here for a few minutes, just looking at the stars and thinking about—you guessed it—Henry. I was thinking about actually getting up the courage to talk to him tomorrow at school. But I didn't necessarily want to tell my mom that.

"Oh, nothing really," I said with a smile. "I just think the stars are so beautiful tonight."

My mom nodded. "They sure are. Can I join you, then?"

"Of course," I said, making room for her on the porch swing I sat on. In comfortable silence, we watched the night sky twinkle together.

Suddenly, a bright light streaked across the sky.

"Whoa! Was that what I think it was?" I asked in excitement.

"Yes, it was a shooting star!" My mom exclaimed. "Hurry, make a wish on it."

I closed my eyes, feeling somewhat silly but enjoying this moment, and wished that Henry would be mine.

Opening my eyes, I saw my mom smiling at me softly. I leaned into her shoulder and we talked for awhile about mundane things before I headed to my room for bed and thought nothing more of the shooting star.

***

My palms began to get that odd, clammy feeling they got when I was nervous. I was finishing up at my locker at the end of the school day, talking myself up to talk to Henry, whose locker was just around the corner of mine. I knew from paying attention these last two weeks that he stayed at his locker for longer than seemed necessary, playing on his phone or something.

I was planning on just walking up to him, introducing myself, and asking if he had the notes from History because I hadn't been paying attention in class. This was of course untrue, I always paid attention and I took perfect notes. But he didn't know that because he sat in front of me in class. Finally, I closed my locker and was getting ready to round the corner when I saw Henry standing right in front of me.

Stopping abruptly before I ran into him, I saw he was looking directly at me.

"Oh, you scared me," I said, slightly winded from my racing heart.

"I'm so sorry," he said with a beautiful smile. "I was just hoping to introduce myself. I'm Henry, I know we have some classes together and I've wanted to meet you but haven't really gotten the chance."

"Hi Henry, I'm Grace," I said, not believing what was happening. "I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself before, how are you liking the school?"

"Oh, it's really great. Everyone is so friendly," he said. "And intriguing," he added.

"Oh, really? What do you mean by that?"

"Well, for example, you. You are intriguing," he said with a twinkle in his green eyes. "I know we only just met, and forgive me if this is too forward, but would you like to go on a date with me?"

"I thought you'd never ask," I said, unsure how I was even able to form words to respond.

The next things happened in a blur, we exchanged numbers and he walked me to my car in the parking lot. He told me he would text me soon, and I drove away in a daze, thinking about that damned shooting star.

A shooting star. Image from

https://www.needpix.com/photo/853185/dark-darkness-meteor-night-shooting-star-sky-star-woods

Author's note: This is a modern retelling of the Pygmalion story. In the original story, Pygmalion can't find a woman to love where he lives so he carves an ivory girl who he clothes, talks to, brings gifts, kisses, lays in bed with, etc. He then asks the gods to give him a bride like his "ivory girl" and then he goes home and the statue turns into a real, human girl that he then marries. I took this concept and turned it to the way teenage girls may obsess over a celebrity or a boy in their class that they've never or hardly spoken to and know virtually nothing about. And I changed the gods to the shooting star, but I left it open-ended. Who knows, maybe Grace and Henry won't work out. But for now, it's a happy ending.

Bibliography: Pygmalion, from Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Tony Kline. Link here.